Is it possible for the NSA to Spy through the Xbox Kinect ?

Okay here's a new theory. Would it be possible for the NSA to Spy through the Xbox Kinect ? So not unlike Kinect, Skype had assured its users that "wiretaps were technically impossible" the company explained in 2008. And four years later, when hackers accused Skype owner Microsoft of changing the service's backend to facilitate government eavesdropping, the company categorically denied the accusations. Now, it seems like the company could have been lying, or at least had quietly changed its mind.

Mind you, Microsoft is also denying last Thursday's Guardian report, but the denial is a lot less clear-cut. The company disavows having providing "blanket or direct access" to Skype, but doesn't deny that it provides Skype video or audio to the government upon request. So even if we(consumers) take Microsoft's word that the Kinect doesn't currently upload private conversations to remote servers, can anyone trust that Microsoft won't change that in a future software update?

The Verge on this: You close a laptop when you're not using it. Your phone faces the inside of a pocket, a purse, or lies flat on a table. But the Microsoft Kinect, an always-on camera that will come with every new Xbox One game console, gets a perfect view of your living room. It's always listening for voice commands, even when you turn the Xbox off. It can even read your heartbeat with the right software.

Microsoft says it doesn't plan to abuse that power, and claims it couldn't even if it tried. The company told us that the Kinect's cameras and microphones aren't actually recording or transmitting any audio or video data back to Microsoft's servers without the user's explicit consent, and all ambiently collected data is anonymized. While some voice commands are processed at Microsoft's servers, they're converted to text before they ever leave the machine, and biometric data is translated into numerical values that simply indicate, say, where a player's limbs are during online multiplayer games.

I read few days ago that MS was talking with NSA about this spying stuff so they could tell people what actually is possible to do. Stuff like direct access to email and so which I think MS said that NSA did not have. Would be nice to clear things up.

Funny, all these years I never pictured you as a console gamer.....I mean you do all the game reviews for PC so yeah....

War child
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#4621089 Posted on: 07/17/2013 10:15 AM
Personally I don't care. If they want to spy on me through kinnect while in my Mankini, let them.

Nothing to hide here. /hides explosives

Chillin
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#4621090 Posted on: 07/17/2013 10:15 AM

Yes, it's possible. So no masturbating guys at front of kinect!

Are you kidding me? If they're watching me through the Kinect, they damn well better suffer through that.

harkinsteven
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#4621094 Posted on: 07/17/2013 10:25 AM

Can NSA do it ? Well, any police have the right to hack a webcam if a judge accept it. so yes should be possible. Do they do it ? i dont think so...

No they do not, police have as much power as WE grant them. Understand that they are meant to protect you, not serve corporate policy as they do now. NOBODY has the "right" to spy on you. If they spy on you they are collecting evidence AGAINST you, to use to enforce statute rules on you. Do not accept them spying on you to "protect and keep you safe" That is complete bull****. They only protect the state now.

Neo Cyrus
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#4621108 Posted on: 07/17/2013 10:56 AM
I would be shocked if the Xbone isn't used for government spying.

kosh_neranek
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#4621116 Posted on: 07/17/2013 11:08 AM
The question is.Is it possible to be safe while being online and using a cell?The simple answer is: NO. Democracy is an illusion. You have the freedom once the big brother can listen and read whatever you say or write. Snowden didn't say anything that should be news to us - computer aficionados. The only thing he changed is that now even uninformed people know that our lives are being spied on..

H83
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#4621121 Posted on: 07/17/2013 11:15 AM

Are you kidding me? If they're watching me through the Kinect, they damn well better suffer through that.

#4621212 Posted on: 07/17/2013 02:46 PM
It could be used to spy, i wouldn´t be surprise, and no way i´m going to let that piece of crap enter my house.

VolkNasty
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#4621234 Posted on: 07/17/2013 03:10 PM

Don't watch porn on your xbox then.

I believe its one of our GOD given rights... I think it was on the third tablet that Moses accidentally dropped on his way down from Mt. Sinai.

Chillin
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#4621257 Posted on: 07/17/2013 03:56 PM

It could be used to spy, i wouldn´t be surprise, and no way i´m going to let that piece of crap enter my house.

You do realize that your cell phone is used to spy on you a 1000x more effectively.

Exactly who is the target audience for spying through the Kinect2? I don't recall Bin Laden having an Xbox Live account (or any internet for that matter, it's what gave him away ironically). ****ing nerd fantasies that the government wants to spy on them playing Gears of War 263 or crying through Titanic (you know you did).